Local
Drives
So richly diverse and beautiful is this region and, indeed,
the whole of the South Island of New Zealand in which
it sits, that any drive in any direction will delight
even the most tired and travel weary of our guests.
However, by way of getting you
started, the following are a taster of the exciting drives
that can be experienced by guests at the lodge.
South via Braeburn Track to Murchison (approx 1 hour 30 minutes return) This route, beginning
just a few hundred yards from the lodge, is spectacular.
It is 40 miles (64 km) long and includes several fords
making it suitable for cars in dry weather only and 4WD
vehicles in wet weather. Always check for track conditions
with the lodge before departing.This is a trail used by
early Maori and European settlers and circles Mount Murchison
and Mount Harte.
Leave the lodge, cross the Gowan
River Bridge and head straight on (rather than following
the sealed road to the right). The seal ends immediately
and careful driving is required for those guests unfamiliar
with unsealed surfaces.
Simply follow the track, stopping
occasionally to enjoy the streams and rivers that run
alongside or cross the track. Eventually you will reach
“The Big Rock” and travel through the Tutaki
Valley (the Tutaki River is a favourite trout stream -
one of many in the area).
Continue through the Blackwater
Valley (where the remains of an old oil rig can be seen)
and enjoy the remote farmland and mountain backdrops -
stop to look over the Blackwater Bridge at the rock formations.
Signs will keep you on track until
you finally reach the Mangles River and Longford where
you will join State Highway 6, turning left for Murchison
or right to head back to the lodge via Gowan Valley Road
(signposted to the right about 20 minutes from this junction)
South from Murchison via Maruia
Valley and Matakitaki Valley (approx
2 hours return to Murchison)
Head south from Murchison (perhaps
having driven the Braeburn Track and stopped for a break
in Murchison) via State Highway 6, passed the Buller Gorge
turn off (7 miles/11 km) - side trip of 2 miles (3.5
km) down to the Ariki Falls - and on down the Maruia
Valley on State Highway 65 (Lewis Pass Route).
Another 7½ miles (12 km)
brings you to the Maruia Falls created following the 1929
earthquake and still growing. There is a picnic area here.
Continue on past Pea Soup Creek to the Shenandoah, up
to the Saddle (1676 ft/511 m) and down to the Burnbrae
(Frog Flat Junction).
Turn left on the sweeping bend
onto the metal (unsealed) road that takes you up to the
Maruia Saddle (1968 ft/600 m).
A downhill drive through the Warbeck
Reserve and through six small fords (suitable for cars
in dry weather) brings you to the Matakitaki Valley and
the Horse Terrace Bridge (spectacular views). Once a thriving
area with 200 Chinese gold diggers and the Mammoth Hotel,
it is now home to farmers.
Continue on down the valley past
Six Mile (site of the oldest hydroelectric power scheme
in the country) and the road brings you back to the middle
of Murchison.
North to
St Arnaud (approx 1
hour 10 minutes return) Leave the lodge via
the Gowan Valley Road and travel the 7 miles (11 km) to
the junction with State Highway 6.
Turn right and drive a further
3 miles (5 km) to Kawatiri Junction (the remains of the
old railway station are still clearly visible alongside
this abandoned railway).
Turn right onto State Highway 63
(signposted St Arnaud) and follow the mighty Buller River
up towards its source at Lake Rotoiti. This is a beautiful
drive with panoramic views of the valley and the Buller
as its runs through long, braided sections with hills
on either side.
St Arnaud is a small and attractive
Alpine township which serves the local farming community
as well as the significant outdoor visitor traffic including
skiers in the winter (St Arnaud is close to the Rainbow
Ski Field) and trampers, kayakers, white water rafters,
climbers etc, in summer.
Take time to visit the stunning
Lake Rotoiti, the Department of Conservation Information
Centre (a first-class centre including extensive information
services, audio visual tours of the region, natural history
displays, etc) and, when you leave on your return drive,
turn left off State Highway 63 a few minutes out from
St Arnaud to visit the other side of the lake (West Bay)
and enjoy the quite different perspective gained from
the western shore.
For an extended day’s drive,
leave St Arnaud travelling east on State Highway 63 and
visit Picton and/or Blenheim in the Marlborough Region,
adding a further 3½ hours driving (return) plus
the time you choose to spend in that region.
